KUALA LUMPUR: Sime Darby Plantation Bhd has appointed Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad (pic) as its new group chief operating officer overseeing the group's upstream operations in Malaysia, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

       In a statement, the plantations group said the appointment was effective from Jan 1, 2024.

       Meanwhile, Haris will continue in his capacity as managing director of Sime Darby Oil, a position he has held since March 2019, where he will lead efforts in market expansion and revenue growth.

       In addition to his core responsibilities, Haris will spearhead various key corporate exercises for the Group, said group managing director Datuk Mohamad Helmy Othman Basha.

       Mohamad Helmy also announced the formation of the operations leadership team (OLT), which will be chaired by Haris.

       The OLT will consist of the three CEOs responsible for the Upstream operations, the chief operating officer of Sime Darby Oils, and the chief research and development Officer, he said.

       "As we undergo rapid growth across our supply chain and introduce new technologies into existing pathways, we eagerly anticipate a new era of operational excellence under Haris’ guidance," said Mohamad Helmy.

       StarPicks

       Tan Sri Ir Dr Lim Hock San is MGB Berhad group executive chairman

       Haris joined the group in 2014 as head of trading and marketing and also led the plantation division’s downstream manufacturing division.

       With a career spanning nearly three decades, Haris began his professional journey in 1995 as a trader with Cargill in Malaysia, focusing on palm oil and palm products trading.

       Later, he held several key global and regional roles in cocoa procurement, commodity risk management, and oils and fats procurement at Nestle and Unilever.